Last Week

On Tuesday, I had a podiatry appointment (diabetic, remember?) so I left work early. My appointment was at 4:30 and I arrived about 15 minutes early and I guess I was the last appointment so I went in right away and was actually done at 4:30. The podiatrist since my feet are strong and circulation is good, but I do have the beginnings of nerve damage so he put me on 2 more vitamins and reiterated that I need to get my blood glucose under control.

Since I was done so early, I got to the gym for Zumba hella early. I thought about taking a different class, but ended up jumping on the elliptical instead. I was able to increase my time to 20 minutes. WOO-HOO!!

I finished up on the elliptical 20 minutes before Zumba class, but boy was I tired when it came time for class. To make things worse, the AC was broken in the studio so it felt like a sauna, especially since another class had just let out. Our instructor tried to take it easy, but it was still miserable. So after doing 20 minutes on the elliptical, I didn't think I was going to make it through Zumba. When class ended, I was so tired.

Wednesday was my birthday and I had every intention of going to the gym for my workout. I was going to have a quiet birthday consisting of the gym and then detouring into DTLA to one of my favorite restaurants for a yummy birthday dessert. I was really looking forward to it.

Uni & Ro had flowers delivered to my office for my birthday. It was so very sweet and if that wasn't enough, they asked to take me to dinner. I got the go-ahead from F for dinner, so I agreed. Still intending to go to the gym beforehand. Uni mentioned needing to know because tickets had to be bought in advance, but I misread thinking a reservation needed to be made, but then thought maybe it was a dinner show or something when I re-read the ticket part. Well, my boss has a big meeting this week and I've been working on an annual report for said meeting and Wednesday was the only day we had time to go over it and figure out what was missing to wrap it up. I had hoped to leave the office at 5pm to get my workout in, but it was looking like it'd be closer to 6pm. Uni wouldn't tell me where we were going, except that we needed to be there by 8pm and it was going to take about 45 minutes to get there. We'd have to leave by 7pm and if I wasn't leaving the office until 6pm, it meant I wouldn't have enough time for my workout. Bummer.

Uni and Ro ended up surprising me with tickets to see "Newsies" at the Pantages Theatre. I've never been a fan of the movie, but am really grateful to Uni & Ro for wanting to make my birthday special. If you know me, then you know I'm not very keen on celebrating my birthday, so I really appreciate Uni & Ro thinking of me.

If you know LA, then you know traffic from the Westside to Hollywood is horrible. Uni and Ro just aren't used to that drive, so they didn't realize just how long it was going to take or how much traffic there would be. We made it just in time for the show, so no time for dinner. The show ended around 10:30pm and it was already past my bedtime so no time for dinner or anything.

Not going to the gym on Wednesday and getting home so late ended up throwing me completely off on Thursday. I woke up late, didn't have time to stop at the grocery store for my breakfast items, got to work later than usual and then I was just super crazed at work. I was completely out of whack and just felt off. It goes to show that I've gotten used to a routine and not adhering to it had an adverse affect on me.

I went to Zumba Thursday night and felt better. We had another sub, though, and she was way different than the others. Her routines were more aerobic, less dance. And her arms movements were not drill team-like like the Tuesday instructor. Her routines were more of a workout. She was tough. And I was exhausted at the end of class.

I'm always exhausted after Zumba, huh? ;)

On Friday we got out of work early since it was the day before a long weekend. I had plans with Mari for dinner. I didn't tell her I was getting out early because I wanted to make sure I got my workout in. It was so nice going to the gym at 3pm; it was so empty! I got through my training and then jumped on the elliptical. I was still tired from Zumba the night before so I could only do 15 mins on the elliptical and did the remaining 15 on the treadmill. I got done with my workout just in time. Marisela ended up getting over here early so she just picked me up from the gym.

We headed to Santa Monica and had dinner, walked around the promenade and watched "Suicide Squad."

It was another late night, but thankfully I didn't have to wake up early the next day. :)

I had hoped to go to the gym on Saturday or Sunday to make up for Wednesday's missed workout, but laziness got the better of me on Saturday. I woke up, had breakfast and then ended up taking a nap. Then I woke up, had lunch and asked F if he was coming over because I wanted to go to the gym and he told me to go to the gym, but ended up taking another nap. I've noticed that the last few Saturday's unless I have something planned, I've been taking a lot of naps. 

On Sunday, F came over so I got a different kind of workout. ;)

So I didn't make up my missed workout after all. :(  I don't know why I can't get myself to the gym over the weekend. I want to, but laziness wins out. :(

Yesterday was a holiday, so no work. I was not going to miss another workout, so I went to the gym by my house (where I go for Zumba) and did my workout. Doing my training there I realized I don't like that gym. It's perfectly fine for Zumba and maybe even swimming (though I haven't yet); and even working on the elliptical, but the machines are different and I had a harder time figuring out which ones I knew how to use. Plus, they're not well maintained. I ended up working more on my chest than legs, which was fine because I was going to try to get to 30 mins on the elliptical. I finished up my training and went upstairs to the elliptical. I got to 20 mins and I wasn't sure I'd make it to the 30, so I just kept telling myself to get to 25. At 24 1/2, Beyonce's "Formation" came on my iPod and it gave me the boost I needed. I picked up speed and got to the 30 mins. WOO-HOO!!

I weighed myself after my workout, out of curiosity again, and I just don't think I'm doing that right. I wish it was just a digital scale because yesterday it said I was down 15 pounds from my last doctor's appointment. (Remember, last week it said I was down 5 pounds, so an extra 10 pounds seems hard to believe in a week's time.)

I have Zumba tonight and on Wednesday I'm back with my trainer.

Workouts

On Friday I was supposed to have my session with the master trainer, but he had an emergency so he paired me up with the trainer from the week before that was a bit condescending.

I had a good workout with him, but there's still something about him. He's definitely tough, but I don't know, he makes me feel like I'm wasting his time. Like because I'm not fit, he doesn't really want to work with me. But it's like, isn't that the entire point??? What's the point of working with someone that's already fit?!?!

Even though my session with him was all legs, I still tried the elliptical afterwards and I was able to double my time again. If you remember, the first time I could only do 2 minutes, then I went up to 4 minutes and on Friday I got all the way up to 8 minutes. WOO!! I pushed through to 8 minutes mostly because I discovered that if I hold onto the handle right in front that don't move, I don't get tired quickly. Using the other handles that move as I move my legs really burns me out. Like Zumba, I can't do both legs and arms. At least not yet.

I was really happy I got to 8 minutes, especially since my session before was all legs and I was having a little trouble towards the end. I finished up my 30 minutes of cardio with 22 minutes on the treadmill. I did my walk on the level 5 incline and increased the speed a little. I had been on 1.7, but got to 2.0 on Friday. I also worked on my form and did not hold on to the rails and only gripped the handles when I wanted to check my heart rate. I was surprised how easily I was able to do my walk without holding on considering I was afraid I was going to slide backwards and fall.

The good thing about my workouts on Friday is that machines are readily available without any wait time; the gym is practically empty!

Yesterday (Monday), I worked with the trainer from my first session. We did more this time, but I still sort of felt like she went easy on me. We mostly worked on shoulders so that was a little harder on me.

After my session I went downstairs and ended up on the treadmill because all the elliptical machines were taken. I did 30 minutes, gradually increasing the incline and speed. I started at incline level 5 and got to 6.5 (it didn't occur to me to increase incline until later in my walk). I think I got past 2.0 in speed, but can't remember how high I went. However, by the time I came back down to 1.7 and incline level 5, it felt like I wasn't even moving, so that's good in terms of being able to handle higher speeds and inclines. 

I'm on my own for my next 3 workout sessions as I won't be back to my regular trainer until the Wednesday after Labor Day, but now I know lots of difference machines and exercises I can do. Plus, continue to try and double my time on the elliptical.

Tonight is Zumba, so I'm looking forward to that. I didn't get to a Zumba class this past weekend. Maybe this coming weekend...maybe. I just wish they weren't so early.

Another Sub

We had another substitute for Zumba last night. Her movements were very exaggerated and boy was she HARD!! No one could really follow along with her arm movements, so we just did what we thought or like me, sometimes I didn't do the arm movements. I have a hard time doing arm movements and the footwork to begin with so sometimes I have to forego the arm movements.

Man, she was really HARD.

She had us doing squats for an entire song...right at the beginning. I thought I was going to die!! My thighs were burning!

Some steps I could follow along, but since her movements were so exaggerated, I couldn't always tell what I was supposed to do. There's this girl that I've only seen at the Thursday class, that is always at the front of the class (I stay in the back). I like watching her because she moves so effortlessly. She's tall and has a large frame (not big) that's well proportioned and toned. She usually knows all the steps so if I get lost, I watch her to see what I'm supposed to do. The sub was also very petite so I couldn't always see her footwork and I'd look to the girl. Last night, there were times when even she couldn't follow along!

I kept muttering, "she's so hard" under my breath every time a song ended. And each song just felt so long!

My t-shirt was completely drenched in sweat, even more so than usual, and my body ached when class was over. Class went over and I missed the bus home so I took longer to change. I just sat on a bench in the locker room trying to cool down.

Before I left, out of curiosity again, I jumped on the scale. I set it to my weight from last week and it was too heavy. :) According to the scale, I lost 5 pounds - woo-hoo!!

I know I shouldn't get too excited. The scale may be off or something, but I'm still pretty happy about it. :)  It would be great if I could lose another 15 pounds before my next doctor's appointment at the end of September, that way, my doctor will see that I am following her instructions and making significant strides.

I should also mention that I really like how I feel after my workouts/Zumba. Yes, I'm tired, but I also feel rejuvenated. There's a layer of sweat on my skin, everywhere, and I do mean everywhere, but there's also a tingly sensation to my skin. This could be why I haven't let the laziness in me take over. :)

Wednesday Workout

I left work later than I usually do and by the time I got to the gym for my workout, it was busier than usual so there was wait time for machines. My trainer had given me instructions to work on chest & shoulders, which was great because my legs were still achy and tired. I did do one leg machine and boy was that difficult.

For my pre-workout warm-up, I decided to see if I could increase my time on the elliptical. Remember, on Friday, I could only do 2 minutes. Yesterday I doubled it and did 4 minutes. Yay! But, boy was it hard, especially since my legs were achy. But I powered through and made it to 4 minutes. I briefly wondered if I could make it to 5 minutes, but decided not to push it. ;)

After my workout upstairs on the machines, I came downstairs and did another 30 minutes on the treadmill with an incline of 5. I still don't know what that means, but it must be good because I kept looking at the people running/walking on the machines around me and most of them had it set at 0 or just at 1 or 2.

(So I just Googled it and I need to work on my form. I hold on to the rails and while I don't lean back, but stay straight, towards the end of the walk, when I need to push through to the end, I do hunch my shoulders and lean forward a little bit. It's just that when I don't hold on, I feel myself moving backwards and I think I'm going to fall. I'll work on not holding on.)

I made a workout playlist for my iPod and I am totally one of those people on the treadmill that starts swaying and dancing to the music. I don't care, whatever gets me through it, right? LOL. :)

Inner Thighs

Since I've noticed a difference, I keep staring at myself in the mirror. I believe I have narrowed down the most significant change; my inner things. I have flabby arms and well, my inner thighs are the same, er, were the same. When I'm standing up, you can see the droop lines if I'm naked (or just in underwear) or wearing bike shorts/leggings.

Last night, I changed into my workout clothes, went into the bathroom and when I came out of the stall, I looked at myself in the mirror and noticed that I could hardly see the droop lines. I was wearing capri leggings and not the spandex type that would smooth out the lines, just regular cotton leggings. I remember just a few sessions ago being in front of the large mirror wall as I did the exercises my trainer laid out and looking at myself and then looking down because the droop lines were noticeable.

And now I keep staring down at my inner thighs and looking at them in the mirror. They're not completely smooth, but I can tell the difference. I've been thinking about what exercises I've been doing that would have affected them. I haven't been doing any "thigh master" type exercises. I do do side lunges and I wonder if my time on the bike helped too.

A Difference

I'm only on my 3rd week of working out and I can already see a difference, slight changes.

At the gym by my house, they have a scale in the women's locker room so after Zumba last Thursday, out of curiosity I hopped on. I was a bit disappointed because I weighed the same as my last doctor's appointment at the end of June. I thought for sure it had gone down. I know the master trainer at the gym said my weight may go up as I build muscle, but still.

Regardless of the number on the scale, I do feel different.

And maybe look a little different.

Last night as I was changing into my workout clothes for Zumba, the section of lockers I was using has a long mirror in front of them and when I stood up dressed, I caught a glimpse of myself and did a double-take. When I started my new job 5 months ago, I looked pregnant. My belly protruded past my boobs. I've always tried to make sure my boobs protrude farther out that my tummy, but 5 months ago that was not the case. I've also always had a front butt and most of the time, it protruded out more than my tummy. And even when my tummy hasn't protruded out more than my boobs, there have still been the side rolls. I'm very oddly shaped.

Even before I started working out, due to the change in my diet, I no longer looked pregnant, so I was happy about that. Let me tell you, even though F knew I was on birth control and had been for the last year, he was beginning to worry, so it's good that my tummy went down without a crying child being produced. LOL.

But last night I did a double take because my tummy and front butt are evening out and I looked flatter than I ever have. I still have my front butt and tummy rolls, but there's a difference.

I just went to the bathroom and I'm wearing Spanx so I had to take my dress off and I was looking at myself in the mirror and maybe it's not so much that I'm evening out, but my front butt looks like it's going down. Heck, I'll take that. My front butt has always bothered me because I have to buy larger pants and jeans because of it and then my legs are swimming in them. Like I said, I'm oddly shaped.

The difference isn't just physical. I still get winded easily and am panting through my workouts and Zumba, but I'm making progress on my breathing and there's a point in my workouts when my lungs seem to open up. I get this sudden rush and feeling of being able to breathe easier.

So even though I'm new to this whole working out, progress is being made. :) 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In addition to the above, the most important visible difference (visible to me, at least), is the effect daily exercise has had on my blood glucose levels. They've been on the lower end of the average range, so double YAY!! :) :)

Training and Zumba

I've been trying to do my training session and Zumba posts separately, but since I didn't have time to recap my Monday session yesterday, today is 2-in-1.

I was back with my regular trainer on Monday and we had a good session. I told him what my Friday trainer said about the bike and he said it was OK for me to do the bike as I work my way up to the elliptical. He did reiterate that I should do the treadmill and set it on an incline.

For my session, we did a couple machines that I'd done before, this time with increased weight. And then we did some core exercises.

As the month is coming to an end, I was wondering when I was supposed to schedule my sessions for next month. I was going to ask, but luckily, he brought it up at the end of our session and I scheduled my September sessions with him. I prefer keeping things consistent and just working with one trainer.

So after my session, I was going to try the elliptical again, but all the machines were taken and so were the bikes, so I did 30 minutes on the treadmill, at an incline of 5. I don't really know what that means, but my t-shirt was drenched in sweat when I was done and my legs were sore yesterday.

Actually, they still are.

Zumba was a little harder last night because of it. I was just a little more tired overall yesterday and had trouble keeping up with the class. My body was achy and even my back hurt a bit too.

When it comes to Zumba, though, I'm proud of myself because I just keep moving and stay for the entire class (55 minutes). There are others that don't make it through to the end, but I just keep moving, even if I'm not doing the right steps or in sync with the class because there are definitely times I'm doing the right steps but opposite of the class. ;)

Like I wrote, last night was a little harder though and I was achy and tired at the end of class. Today my legs are still achy. Thank goodness training is on my own tonight and he told me to work on shoulders and chest. I'll try the elliptical if any machines are available, and if not, back on the treadmill.

Friday Workout - New Trainer

I had a different trainer on Friday and I'm not sure how I feel about him.

On the one hand, we went through other machines and he gave me other exercises to do on my own at home.

But on the other hand, he was a bit condescending.

I haven't been working out very long. Just completed 2 full weeks in 20+ years. That's a big deal. At least it is to me. And I don't appreciate being told that working on the bike is nothing because you just sit there and don't have to focus. Excuse me! I know I should do the elliptical, but I'm working my way up to it. It has taken a lot of focus and pushing myself to get to 20 minutes on the bike after my workout sessions, so I definitely don't appreciate you belittling my effort. My effort of TWO WEEKS!!!

You want me to buy a jump rope and do 30 minutes every day, I will do it!

You want me to do leg lifts (or whatever they're called) every day, I will do it!!

Yes, I know my core is weak. I'm fuckin' FAT!! Of course it's going to be weak when I haven't done any kind of exercise in 20+ years. That's why I'm at the gym now! That's why I'm paying extra for a trainer! So I can friggin' work on all this!!


I tried the elliptical after my session and was only able to do 2 minutes, so I finished my 20 minutes of cardio with 18 on the bike. I'll just keep working on it and try to grow the amount of time I can do on the elliptical.

I didn't end up going to Zumba over the weekend, not because I was de-motivated by my Friday trainer, but because F didn't get back to me in time as to whether or not we were doing something on Saturday, so I ended up sleeping in. I needed it, though, since I didn't get a lot of sleep last week.

It's a new week. Today I have a session with my regular trainer and on Friday I have one with the master trainer, plus the one on my own; and I put the two Zumba classes on my calendar. I have to get a jump rope and figure out where/when I can get those 30 minutes a day in.

Thursday Night Zumba

We had a substitute for Zumba last night. Class was led by a male instructor and his routines were more like Tuesday's instructor. A lot of arm movement. Totally felt like drill team. :)

I seem to be getting the hang of it as I was actually able to follow along sometimes and was actually in sync with the class a few times. :) :) :)

I almost didn't go to class last night because I felt a little weird all day and my tummy felt weird, but I sucked it up and went. I'm glad I did.

I really wanted to see if I could handle 2 classes of Zumba with my 3 days of training. We'll see how I feel tonight after training, but so far so good. So much so that I'm seriously thinking of taking the 9:45am Zumba class tomorrow and then hitting the pool. That sounds wonderful, doesn't it? :)